Çolaklar Stone Bridge

If you want to visit the ancient Roman bridge, head back towards the village of Yelliburun and as you pass the village of Şahmaran on your right, you will come to Çolaklar village. About 20 km from Yesemek Open Air Museum, and 1.5 km southeast of Çolaklar village, in an isolated spot in the middle of nowhere, lies a stone bridge, known as the Çolaklar Roman Stone Bridge.

The bridge, built over the Karasu brook, nowadays is only frequented by fishermen, shepherds and their flocks. On either side of the bridge there are the remains of a Roman road, also made from basalt stone. If you want to visit the bridge, the rocky terrain means you must be prepared to walk for about 500 m after you have parked your vehicle.

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Yesemek Tour and Alternative

If you want to visit the ancient Roman bridge, head back towards the village of Yelliburun and as you pass the village of Şahmaran on your right, you will come to Çolaklar village. About 20 km from Yesemek Open Air Museum, and 1.5 km southeast of Çolaklar village, in an isolated spot in the middle of nowhere, lies a stone bridge, known as the Çolaklar Roman Stone Bridge.

The bridge, built over the Karasu brook, nowadays is only frequented by fishermen, shepherds and their flocks. On either side of the bridge there are the remains of a Roman road, also made from basalt stone. If you want to visit the bridge, the rocky terrain means you must be prepared to walk for about 500 m after you have parked your vehicle.

The tomb of Muhammed Beledi can be found on Beledi Hill in the neighbourhood of Sam. In the second half of the 15th century, Muhammed Beledi, hearing about Sheikh Sam, comes to visit him. It is said that following this meeting, a strong bond develops between the two.

Continuing on towards Nurdağı, 5 km after the village of Yeşilce, head left and 7 km after the village of Işıklı you will come to the Sofdağı Plateau.

The highest peak of the Sofdağ mountains is called Kepekçi Hill, where the air is pure and rich in oxygen. The Sofdağı Mountains are the source of more than 20 freshwater courses, such as Gerdek Spring, Cennet Spring and Börek Spring.

One km to the west of Sakçagözü Waterfall lies Hurşit Ağa Mansion which recently suffered damage in a fire rendering it unfit for use. The building was used as military quarters during the War of Independence and as a refuge for the Ottoman soldiers during the First World War.

After heading west for approximately 4 km on the old Adana road, you will come to Nurdağı Castle in the district of Nurdağı.

In the castle there are ornamental ponds, model animals, a children’s play area, and a traditional nomad tent decorated with wooden carvings and set up like an authentic wedding hall to demonstrate the local culture.

If you want to leave the prescribed route and visit one of the region’s alternative cultural treasures, we recommend a climb to Çerçil Castle.

Heading away from the village of Yelliburun in a westerly direction for 10 km, you will arrive at Çerçil Castle, which is situated 600 m southwest of Çerçil village, and sits at the top of a natural hill. Some of the important findings from the castle are coloured ceramic pieces, showing that the settlement dates from the Middle Ages. The road that stretches from the İslahiye plains to the inner side of the Amanos mountains passes through the footslopes of the hill on which the castle sits. This suggests that the castle, for a period, held a position of strategic importance. If you want to see the castle ruins at the top, you should be prepared for an arduous climb of approximately one hour through dense shrubland.

In the centre of the neighbourhood of Sam lies the tomb of Abdurrahman Erzincani, known as Sheikh Sam. It is said that Yavuz Sultan Selim stayed near the village of Sam on his way to the Egyptian campaign, and whilst there, met Sheikh Sam.

Based on a dream he had, Sheikh Sam gave promises of victory in Egypt and sent Yavuz Sultan Selim on his way with blessings. On his return from the campaign, Yavuz awards the tithes received from the village of Sam to the sheikh and has a inn and mosque built in the village.